| >> The history and Growth of Wildomar |
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The History and Growth of Wildomar Inaugural Wildomar Founder's Week
Sponsored by the Wildomar Historical Society various activities are planned
for the week of February 7-13.
As reported by Michael J. Williams in The Californian: Click Here
As reported on LakeElsinore-Wildomar.Patch.com: Click Here
02/07/2011 | | Views: 191 - Comments: 0 |    |
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Images of America - Wildomar
This beautiful book published by Arcadia Publishing and written by local
author Robert Cashman, tells the history of Wildomar using vintage photographs
and stories recalled by members of our city's founding families.
Book signing event at Wildomar VFW Post 1508, May 16, 2010.
Contact Bob Cashman (951) 678-1385 or Edy Rodarme (951) 678-0141 to
purchase a copy of this wonderful book. Proceeds from the sale benefit
the Wildomar Historical Society.
Update 06/19/10: Article written by Michael J. Williams and published in The
Californian: Click Here
05/16/2010 | | Views: 215 - Comments: 0 | |
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Hunt For Old Wildomar Pictures
HUNT FOR OLD WILDOMAR PICTURESThe Wildomar Historical Society
is searching for old pictures of Wildomar. Anything concerning Wildomar prior to
1960 would be of interest including buildings, homes, parks, schools, churches,
people, roads, the cemetery and landscape.
Please hunt up your treasures
and phone Bob Cashman 678-1385 or Edy Rodarme 678-0141.
01/11/2009 | | Views: 309 - Comments: 0 | |
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First Council Meeting at City Hall
It's taken less than two
months since officially incorporating for the City of Wildomar to be in a
position to function, including holding public council meetings, at it's own
City Hall.
Video
Clip from first ever Council Meeting
held at Wildomar City
Hall.
Click on above image to view video.
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Posting of colors and delivery of
WIN proclamations.
Click on
above image to view
video. |
09/01/2008 | | Views: 401 - Comments: 0 | |
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Time Warner Inauguration Celebration Video
"Birth of A City" video created by Time Warner Cable and posted on their
web site: http://www.twcsocalnews.com
It may take a few moments to load, depends upon your connection speed and
site traffic volume. Thanks for your patience.
07/30/2008 | | Views: 375 - Comments: 0 | |
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City of Wildomar Inauguration Day - July 1, 2008
Inauguration Celebration for the City of WildomarWildomar
officially became the 25th city in the County of Riverside on July 1,
2008.
The City of Wildomar encompasses approximately 26 square miles and
a population of approximately 25,000.
Sworn in to the first
council were:
- Bob Cashman (Mayor) - Engineer, historian, community
volunteer
- Bridgette Moore - (Mayor Pro-tem) Businesswoman,
community activist and volunteer
- Marsha Swanson - Businesswoman, real estate broker
- Scott Farnam - Businessman, real property developer, real
estate broker
- Sheryl Ade - Community activist and volunteer
To view the Agenda of that inaugural meeting: Click
Here
To view bio's for all candidates who ran for office: Click
Here
The celebration was held on the campus of Elsinore High School and was
attended by an estimated crowd of over 1,000 people. The below video clips of
the festivities are approximately 10 minutes in length each.
Click
on each image to view the clip.
Clip
One
Field Preparation |
Clip Two
Emcee Stan Crippen |
Clip Three
Bob Buster Swearing In |
Clip Four
Mayor Bob Cashman |
Clip Five
WIN Proclamation |
Clip Six
Mayor Pro-tem Bridgette Moore |
Clip Seven
Council Meets |
Clip Eight
Council Meets |
Clip Nine
American Heroes Tribute |
Clip Ten
American Heroes Tribute |
Clip Eleven
American Heroes Tribute |
Clip Twelve
Festivities |
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Clip Thirteen
Fireworks |
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As reported by Diane O'Malley in The Valley News: Click
Here
07/06/2008 | | Views: 400 - Comments: 0 | |
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Inauguration Day Ringing of Wildomar School Bell
The cast iron bell that
resides at the corner of Palomar and Central is the original bell from Wildomar
School, founded in 1886. It was typically rung not just for the students to know
when to be in class, but also on important events as an indication to the
community that something significant had occurred.
Wildomar historical
society chair Bob Cashman provides us with a glimpse of the historical
significance of the bell, as well as the actual ringing of it. Cashman,
Mayor-elect of the City of Wildomar, is joined in the ringing effort by
council-persons elect Bridgette Moore and Marsha Swanson.
Due to time
limitations imposed by You Tube, we provide below 2 video clips
of the approximately 13 minute long total event.
Clip
One |
Clip
Two |
07/01/2008 | | Views: 380 - Comments: 0 | |
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Inaugural Wildomar City Council-elect Meeting
Inaugural Wildomar City Council-elect MeetingOn February 8,
2008, the citizens of Wildomar went to the polls to decide whether or not they
wished to incorporate, and if so, who would represent them on the first ever
city council. 62% of the votes cast (YES 3,860 : NO 2,402) were in
favor of incorporation.
Wildomar officially became the 25th city in the
County of Riverside on July 1, 2008.
Wildomar was the first city to
incorporate in Riverside County since Murrieta did on July 1,
1991.
Wildomar was the first city to incorporate in the state of
California since the City of Rancho Cordova did on July 1, 2003.
Wildomar
encompassed approximately 26 square miles and a population of approximately
25,000.
The incorporation effort spanned nearly decade.
Elected to
the first council were:
- Bob Cashman (leading vote getter, and Mayor-elect) -
Engineer, historian, community volunteer
- Bridgette Moore - Businesswoman, community activist and
volunteer
- Marsha Swanson - Businesswoman, real estate broker
- Scott Farnam - Businessman, real property developer, real
estate broker
- Sheryl Ade - Community activist and volunteer
To view the Agenda of that inaugural meeting: Click Here
To view bio's for all candidates who ran for
office: Click Here
The below video clips are approximately 10 minutes in length each, and
were filmed on March 5, 2008. They are of the first ever meeting of the
City of Wildomar council members-elect. The meeting was held at David A. Brown
School and attended by approximately 200 interested persons. Click on each image
to view the clip.
Clip One
The First
Council |
Clip Two
Chairman Bob
Cashman |
Clip Three
Sheryl
Ade |
Clip Four
Marsha
Swanson |
Clip Five
Citizen
Speaker |
Clip Six
Scott
Farnam |
Clip Seven
Bridgette
Moore |
Clip Eight
Citizen
Speaker |
Clip Nine
Sheryl
Ade |
Clip Ten
Wildomar
Residents |
Clip Eleven
Kami
Sabetzadeh |
Clip Twelve
Ed
McOrmond |
03/05/2008 | | Views: 428 - Comments: 0 | |
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First Ever City of Wildomar Council-Elect Meeting
Though the election has yet
to be certified, the City of Wildomar's inaugural city council members have
scheduled their first ever organizational meeting.
Wednesday March 5 is
the date; 7:00 pm is the time; and the location is David A. Brown Middle School.
To view the event on our calendar and for directions to the school: Click
Here
To view the meeting Agenda: Click Here
As reported in The Californian: Click Here
To view video excerpts of
this meeting: Click Here
03/01/2008 | | Views: 480 - Comments: 0 | |
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1891 Wildomar - Lake Elsinore Press
January 10, 1891 Elsinore
Press
Transcribed by Edy Rodarme
WILDOMAR
THE MAGNIFICENT VALLEY
AND
IT'S BEAUTIFUL
TOWN
Rich in horticulture and agriculture — a little city of
fine schools, perfect climate and thrifty people — one of the safest places in
the county.
One of the neatest and most attractive villages in San Diego
county is Wildomar. Situated in the center of the southerly twenty-five hundred
acres of the original Elsinore tract, on the line of the Santa Fe railroad, it
is in the heart of a region, almost every acre of which is tillable. The soil in
the vicinity ranges from moist alfalfa land to the decomposed granite and sandy
loam of the foothills, and experience has demonstrated that all the fruits for
which Southern California has become famous can be perfectly raised here.
Intelligence must, of course, be used in planting; but those who come to
Wildomar now need not pass through the mistakes which made so many of the early
settlers of Pasadena and Riverside anxious to sell their first fruit farms to
new comers that they (the original owners) might start anew with the wisdom of
experience to guide them.
Enough has been done in the vicinity of
Wildomar to demonstrate to any intelligent man that ten acres of fruit land
judiciously planted and carefully cultivated is the best investment a man can
make for himself and his family and in planting and cultivating he can easily
obtain reliable information from those who have had experience as well as from
horticultural journals.
Land is held at reasonable prices and men of moderate
means willing to work need not fear the fate of many who came in 1887 hoping to
make themselves independent by a few strategic movements in real estate. The era
of industry has set in and prosperity never tarries long when intelligence and
hard work join hands.
To understand fully the condition of towns in Southern
California one must of necessity refer to the boom which brought so much of good
and so much more of evil to this country. During this time of excitement many
towns were started where they were not then and may never be needed. They were
an artificial growth kept alive by the capital of those interested in the sale
of surrounding lands and with no other reason for their existence. In many cases
they were so near other towns and cities that the subsidence of the real estate
excitement left them without means of support.
The fever for town lots
ran high. Many who could not raise money to invest in tracts of land could buy a
town lot and as was inevitable this unnatural state of affairs affected all the
towns in Southern California. Their growth outstripped the development of the
surrounding country.
Wildomar was not a "boom town." It was laid out in
Dec. 1885. The railroad had established a station there before the town was
platted. It is more than five miles from any other station on the road. Settlers
needed a place to trade, and new comers needed plain hotel accommodations. These
were provided, and the growth of the village would have been slow and healthful
as necessity demanded had it not been for the wave of excitement that came in
1887.
Wildomar felt it, as did other towns. Buying and
selling farms and town lots became a business.
The planting of trees and
vines was neglected, money was abundant, stores were started, houses were built,
everything was based upon what the place would need when all this rich
surrounding country was producing — and in the meantime there lay the rich
uncultivated land, waiting patiently for the intelligent use of the plow and
cultivator, the judicious planting of vines and trees, to create a reason for
the existence of the town.
When the excitement subsided it left the country
undeveloped and the towns overgrown. There was no catastrophe, no failure of
crops, no experiments in fruit culture had resulted disastrously. Land had
simply reached a price that nothing but improvements would justify and the
improvements were lacking. Everything that made the boom remains. The climate is
as serene, the soil as rich as ever. Fruit raising is as profitable as the
wildest speculator ever advertised, and now that settlers are shaking off the
stupefaction of their few months of gambling and getting rid of the dreams that
such unnatural condition produce, there is nothing to stand in the way of
material prosperity.
Only a modest beginning has been made in developing
the possibilities of the soil in the vicinity of Wildomar, but what has been
done makes us perfectly safe in advising men of large or small means to go there
and investigate for themselves.
Pure mountain water is piped to the town.
Wells are available at from twenty-five to fifty feet. Oranges, peaches,
apricots, prunes, plums, quinces, raisin grapes and other fruits have been
successfully produced. The oranges are clean and bright, showing all the
characteristics of the Riverside fruit. Deciduous fruits will produce
profitably, with careful cultivation, without irrigation.
The town
contains a large and substantial school house, two churches, erected by the
United Presbyterian's and the Society of Friends, a comfortable hotel, store,
post office, blacksmith shop, etc.
A free reading room furnished with all
the leading periodicals of the day, is in successful operation.
Sidewalk
trees have been planted along the principal streets, and a small park laid out
for public use, has been ornamented with pepper, eucalyptus and cypress
trees.
Those desiring further information concerning Wildomar may obtain
it by correspondence with Wm. Collier, Rev. A. W. Jamieson, Isaac Penrose, Isaac
Hampton or J. K. Wilson, all of who have expressed their willingness to answer
any questions or give any information pertaining to fruit culture or farming in
this vicinity.
01/22/2008 | | Views: 1326 - Comments: 2 | |
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Early Wildomar
Image
courtesy of:
The Online Archive of California (OAC), an initiative of the
California Digital Library
©
2007 by The Regents of The University of California. Image Source
Click on Image for Larger
View
That history column
By: JOHN HUNNEMAN - [Californian] Staff
Writer
With Wildomar on the verge of voting on cityhood, it's
time to take [a look] at how the community was established.
Historian
Steve Lech's great book, "Along the Old Roads," provides the details.
Wildomar's history is tied to Elsinore and that
community's founder, Franklin Heald, who left his native Iowa by train in the
late 1870s to seek his fortune.
Heald arrived in Pasadena, where he
bought property and started a successful citrus venture. While there, Heald
heard from a wealthy uncle in Nicaragua who wanted his nephew to investigate
land investment opportunities in San Diego County.
The uncle offered to
buy the land if Heald could find property suitable to be subdivided and
settled.
Hiking in the mountains in the summer of 1880 with friends,
Heald spotted Laguna Grande in the distance. His friends told him the shimmering
lake was just a mirage, but the following winter Heald made the two-day trip
from Pasadena to investigate.
"It was indeed a grand sight where the Lake
first burst into view, although it was only about a third its full size," Heald
wrote. "Small and poisonous though it was, I fell violently in love with
it."
Heald had found the land his uncle wanted and wrote to his wealthy
relative. However Heald learned his uncle had been jailed in Nicaragua and would
not be able to finance the deal.
Undaunted, Heald turned to a Pasadena
acquaintance named Donald Graham, who agreed to help make the $24,000 purchase.
The two men walked into the bank that owned the land and put a $1,000 deposit on
La Laguna Rancho.
However when the time came to pay the balance, Graham
told Heald he didn't have the money.
The men contacted Graham's
brother-in-law, William Collier, in Iowa who agreed to put up the cash as long
as all three men were made equal partners.
On Sept. 24, 1883, they
purchased the property and established a town.
People flooded into the
community, renamed Elsinore by Graham's wife and Collier's sister, Margaret
Graham.
But dissent grew among the men and in 1885 the partnership
split.
Heald got the northern part of the property and Graham and Collier
the southern, known then as "Car B Station."
Graham and Collier
established the town of "Wildon," using the first syllable of each man's name.
The next year Margaret Graham became a partner and the "mar" was
added.
Collier and Graham were both Quakers and invited friends from the
Midwest to settle in the community. Many of them did and Wildomar became known
as a Quaker Colony.
The Hotel Wildomar opened in 1887, the schoolhouse in
1890.
A magazine writer described Wildomar's people as "industrious and
sober."
But the land bust of the 1890s hit Wildomar hard. People stopped
coming and those who stayed quietly tended their farms for most of the last
century.
Contact columnist John Hunneman at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2603 or
jhunneman@californian.com.
09/02/2007 | | Views: 491 - Comments: 0 | |
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